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Post by eragon on Aug 1, 2019 2:31:46 GMT
Arabella had just exited the chapel, having been driven out of her quiet place of solitude by the off putting presence of one of the chaplains. As she walked down the hallway, book still clutched in one hand, her heeled shoes clicked on the tiled floor and the skirt of her lavender-colored dress shifted with each step.
Rounding the corner at the end of the hallway, she came face-to-face with Blake, almost running into him, and inhaled a sharp breath in surprise.
Her feelings toward Blake were ambivalent: she was very attracted to him, and she desperately wanted to be with him, yet she also felt unworthy of his affections and a blossoming hurt regarding his recent advances toward Evolet. She knew he hadn’t offered himself as a suitor because of any physical or emotional attraction to his cousin, but it hurt nonetheless. For these reasons, she had been avoiding him recently, and they hadn’t seen each other for a couple of weeks.
Uncertain of what to do, she stood motionless aside with gripping the book in her hand a bit tighter. “Hello,” she said quietly.
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Post by eragon on Aug 1, 2019 2:32:18 GMT
Blake gave a start as he came face to face, unexpectedly, with Arabella. It had been some time since they last saw each other. Had it been since their first time sharing a bed? Or since her unfortunate encounter with his only daughter?
After staring at her for a dumbfounded second, he cleared his throat and offered his characteristic dashing smile, which was standard for his interactions with just about anyone. “Arabella. My flower,” he purred, his voice low and pleasant, his eyes warm. He kept a respectful distance. “What are you doing out at this hour?”
It was not an unreasonable time to be out, not even for a noble lady. Yet the sky was beginning to darken, and individuals just beginning to head to their quarters for an evening meal or even to prepare for sleep. “Were you practicing holy prayers in the chapel?” He asked with innocent curiosity after laying eyes upon her book.
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Post by eragon on Aug 1, 2019 2:32:54 GMT
Arabella, not being particularly religious, did not go to the chapel to practice holy prayers. Upon closer inspection, Blake could see that her book was a work of fiction meant for entertainment, not a bible meant for study. “Not exactly,” she said. “I sought some solitude at the chapel, but it was interrupted, so I left. I’m going to have dinner now before retiring for the evening.”
It was difficult for her to remain unaffected by Blake’s charming tone and chiseled face, and she had to remind herself that he had betrayed her in seeking Evolet’s hand. This was what she truly wanted to ask him about, but the castle hallway was hardly the appropriate location. Instead, she turned his own question around on him and asked, “And what are you doing out at this hour?”
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Post by eragon on Aug 1, 2019 2:33:16 GMT
“I was on my way to make my evening prayers,” he said with straight-faced honesty. He was also not a particularly religious man, but he was a fervent proponent of tradition, and practiced behaviors that pleased the public need for devout leaders. After more closely inspecting her book, he felt amused, but his expression did not betray such. Rather he lifted his gaze to meet her eyes, a faint smile on his lips.
“Do you already have dining plans?” He asked, propping himself against the wall with a broad shoulder. Even as he reclined in a relaxed posture, he continued to tower over her and radiate a natural, unintentional power. “If not,” he said before she would have the chance to respond, “might I entertain you with an evening meal?”
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Post by eragon on Aug 1, 2019 2:33:37 GMT
Arabella hesitated. She could lie, she supposed. She could say that she had plans to meet a friend, Poppy maybe. This wouldn’t help to resolve her conflicting feelings about Blake, however. If she accepted his invitation, on the other hand, perhaps she would have the opportunity to question him in private. Besides that, she found that it was difficult for her to say no to him.
“I don’t have plans, so I suppose we could have dinner,” she said. “Where shall we go?”
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